Regulatory Authority Actions

FDA sent a warning letter to Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. after inspectors found data integrity problems at the company’s Yamaguchi, Japan facility.

Guidances for regulatory changes, batch testing, and reporting address situations resulting from “no-deal” Brexit scenario.

As a contingency against border delays resulting from a “no-deal” Brexit, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) directs pharma companies to stock extra medicines.

FDA approved the first generic version of EpiPen and EpiPen Jr (epinephrine) auto-injector.

FDA sent a warning letter to Apotex Research Private Limited after investigators found current good manufacturing practice violations.

FDA published a resource guide to promote responsible opioid prescribing in the treatment of animals.

The new drug, Onpattro (patisiran), by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, is in a new class of drugs called small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) treatment.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will temporarily scale back activities as it copes with “significant staff loss” and prepares for the next phase in its continuity plan.

The European Commission (EC) approved Pfizer’s Trazimera (trastuzumab), a biosimilar to Roche’s Herceptin, to treat certain breast and gastric cancers.

Frustrated by slow market adoption, Gottlieb maps out new plan for biosimilar competition.

The recommended drugs include two orphan medicines and three biosimilars.

Commissioner Gottlieb is reorganizing FDA in the hopes of streamlining policymaking.

Rising pressure to do more to control drug prices is prompting Trump administration officials to explore where more flexible import policies may help ensure access to safe, effective, and more affordable medicines.

The agency announced two research collaborations on bulk lists, updates to categories of bulk drug substances, and issued a warning about a bulk drug substance used in compounding.

FDA and ICH seek comment on new exposure levels for cadmium in drug products.

Inspectors found quality issues at bB BioChem Laboratories Inc, a California-based manufacturer of over-the-counter drug products.

Teva Pharmaceuticals, Major Pharmaceuticals, and Solco Healthcare are voluntarily recalling their products containing valsartan because of the presence of N-nitrosodimethylamine.

The agency is releasing six new draft guidances to provide a regulatory framework for handling gene therapies.

The agency is asking firms to discuss internal quality metrics efforts as part of the approval process for new medical products.

Legislators look to widen access to medications for addiction treatment and overdose emergencies.

The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare highlighted the organization’s achievements in 2017, including the first mAb monograph.

FDA sent a warning letter to Henan Lihua Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. after inspectors found the company failed to ensure the accuracy of its data.

GW Research’s Epidiolex, which treats two forms of epilepsy, receives FDA’s approval; spurs FDA reminders about unapproved products.

The agency published guidance about requests for Prescription Drug User Fee Act waivers, refunds, and reductions in user fees.

The agency launched a secure online portal for orphan drug designation applications.

FDA, EMA, and senior officials from the European Commission met to discuss the EU-US mutual recognition agreement for inspections, the development of advanced therapies, the requirements for approving generic drugs, and Real-World Evidence used for post-authorization monitoring.

The contract development and manufacturing company has received an additional approval from Health Canada to manufacture monoclonal antibody drug substance at its first plant in Icheon, South Korea.

Legislators have requested that FDA do more to prevent drug shortages.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, released a statement on new agency efforts to involve the patient voice in medical product development and FDA regulatory decision-making.

Regulatory authorities have published draft guidance on strategies to facilitate pharmaceutical lifecycle management.